Life-boat.



J. GUNNARSON.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAILG, 1914.

Patented July 21, 1914 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

J. GUNNARSON.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1914.

Patented July 21, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

llvllllll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GUNNARSON, OF BETTENDORF, IOWA.

LIFE-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11y 21, 1914,

Application filed March 6,1914. Serial No. 822,861.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN GUNNARsoN, a citizenof Sweden, residing-at Bettendorf, in the county of Scott and State ofIowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Boats,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in life boats and its object isto produce a device of this class provided with a cover for the hull ofthe boat and said cover is spaced away from the hull by a plurality ofsprings in such a manner as to form a shock absorber by means of whichan impact received at any point upon the hull of the boat is evenlydistributed over the same and the danger from such possible impactsresulting from collisions, buifeting of the waves, etc, reduced to theminimum. Novel air supply means extending through the cover and hull arealso provided by means of which a fresh supply of air is constantlyadmitted to the boat without the admission of water.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter fullydescribed in the following specification, pointed out in the claims andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of saidspecification and in which.-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved life boat with a portion ofthe cover removed. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a crosssection taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sect-ion through aportion of the cover and hull showing the spring connectiontherebetween. Fig. 5 is a similar view taken at another point of theboat. Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section through thehull and cover of the boat showing the form of air inlet means employed.Fig. 8 is a section through a portion of the cover showing rope girdleextending about the same and supporting means for said girdle. Fig. 9 isa front view of the same.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views. The reference numeral 1 indicates the hull of a boatwhich is provided along its lateral exterior surface with a plurality ofsprings 2 which carry a cover 3 formed of canvas, rubber or othersuitable material and said cover is secured toeach gunwale of the boatand passed beneath the keel of the same. At suitable intervals insaidcover guides 4 are secured which carry a rope girdle or life line 5which extends completely about the boat and affords means for persons inthe water to attach themselves to the boat. To the cover 3 a flap issecured and adjacent the same straps 7, 8 are secured, respectively, tothe cover and to a storm cover 9 which, when in use, extends entirelyacross the top of the boat, and into said keepers, to protect theoccupants thereof from the inclemency of the weather or the dangers ofthe sea. The straps 7, 8 are buckled together as at 10 to closely unitethe cover 3 and the storm cover 9.

11 is an angular air inlet, the body of which extends into the hull ofthe boat and the T-shaped head 12 of which extends through the cover 3to admit air tothe boat. Any water enteringthe head 12 willpass outthrough and connecting said cover and hull.

2. In a life boat the combination with the hull, of a plurality ofsprings, a cover connected'to the gunwales of the boat and to saidsprings, angular air inlets passing through and connecting said coverand hull and a storm cover releasably secured to the first named coverand passing over the top of the boat.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as o my own I have heretoafiixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GUNNARSON.

Witnesses:

ESTHER HEMMINGBERG, EVA H. DEL'nNn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

